Bulgaria's energy minister said on Friday that Sofia had yet to make a decision on halting two energy projects with Russia.
"The cabinet has not yet said that we won't take part in the Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline project or suspend the construction of the Belene Nuclear Power Plant," the Bulgarian news agency BGNES quoted Traicho Traikov as saying.
His comments came shortly after the agency quoted the country's Prime Minister Boiko Borisov as saying Bulgaria would not go ahead with either project.
Borisov said the construction of the nuclear power plant, which was being carried out by Russia's AtomStroyExport, had been frozen as investors had not been found.
"There is no clear indication when Bulgaria will get back the money invested in the Belene nuclear power plant construction. We are ready to sit and discuss the cost of the investment with anyone who is ready to name a figure," Borisov was quoted as saying.
Russia's state nuclear power equipment and service export monopoly AtomStroyExport won a tender to build and deliver essential equipment for the nuclear power plant in Belene in 2005. In early 2008, AtomStroyExport signed a contract worth around 4 billion euros ($5.8 billion) for the plant's construction.
Borisov also said Bulgaria had rejected plans to develop the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline project with Russia and Greece.
He told BGNES that Bulgaria would not take part in the project because Burgas region residents were against it and also because the route goes through protected areas.
Russia, Greece and Bulgaria signed a contract in 2007 on the joint construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline.
ATHENS, June 11 (RIA Novosti)
